Brian France: NASCAR's Chip Off The Old (engine) Block

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But he's still a France. He can still pick up the phone and yell at anyone who gets out of line. A former champion found that out the hard way after he made critical comments about the new Chase format. "I said something he didn't like, and he screamed at me," said one champion who, for obvious reasons, asked not to be identified. "He made it clear who was the boss."

The reason, according to NASCAR president Mike Helton, is simple. Success is personal for the entire family. "I can tell you having known Bill Sr., being mentored by Bill Jr. and working for Brian France, there are similarities," Helton said. "That's what helps NASCAR, those similarities, the grandfather, the father, now the son. Those are big assets that keep NASCAR glued together. Obviously there are differences. Those differences, I think, reflect the timing in our sport."

The business elements are different. He approaches the game with more than fact-finding with lieutenants. He involves them. "When Bill (Jr.) was managing NASCAR, very effectively, very correctly, he was the caretaker of all the facts. There were very few lieutenants. Things may have seemed to go quicker back then, but Brian's leadership reflects greatly to today's NASCAR," Helton said. "He has a lot of lieutenants, a lot of experience who bring a lot of value to the table, and he utilizes all of that. "But it's still a family business. And it's personal."

The Daytona 500 remains the pinnacle of the stock car season. Teams spend the two-month off-season getting ready for one race. It's big because it was the cornerstone of the racing schedule created by the grandfather in 1959.

Down the road, France hopes to add tracks near Seattle and New York. The France family already owns 11 of the 21 racetracks on the NASCAR schedule. The Busch Series, also owned by operated by the France family, added Mexico City to the docket two years ago and will replace the CART Champ Car Series in Montreal this year. "Television ratings and attendance, sometimes they can always be better," France said. "But generally speaking, it's all pretty good."

Indeed.